Enduro races are defined by their descents, but the Bronson first impressed us with how energetically it climbed. The VPP rear suspension provided a firm platform so we could stand and pound on the pedals with little undesirable suspension movement—even without increasing the shock’s compression damping. That positive impression continued when we pointed the bike downhill and let gravity take over. The rear wheel tracked smoothly over rocks and ruts without robbing us of precious momentum. And the Bronson’s sharp handling let us dive into corners later and get back on the gas sooner.

When it came time to descend, this 150mm-travel 29er outpaced the competition. Its balanced geometry and plush suspension allowed us to attack the steepest sections of our test loop—accelerating into and often jumping over the largest obstacles, instead of slowing down and steering around them. The Enduro climbed relatively well for its weight as long as we engaged the shock's ProPedal platform damping.

A repeat winner, the Epic remains one of the fastest, most enjoyable race bikes we’ve tested. Specialized has continually refined the BRAIN rear shock and it felt supple when we rumbled over tendrils of roots and crisp when we stood to power over rises in the trail. The handling felt just as dialed—precise in tight corners and stable when sprinting along the flats. This is the rare race bike that is capable enough to win whatever event you enter and equally fun to cruise on your local trails.

Whether we were racing up a rocky climb or bombing down a spiraling descent, the Mach 4 felt faster, smoother, and more composed than the other finalists. Its DW-Link suspension remained calm as we ascended, yet allowed the rear wheel to dip and rise as it rolled over rocks and roots. That provided excellent traction and—more importantly—helped translate our pedal strokes into forward momentum. “I felt comfortable in any situation,” said one tester. “I’d choose this bike for a weeklong race or for an all-day adventure on unfamiliar trails.”

The Sight pedaled crisply, descended capably, and felt lighter than the other finalists. What really elevated this bike above the others, however, was how lively it felt on the trail. Climbs felt easier, even without engaging the shock’s platform damping, and the bike seemed to slice nimbly around obstacles when we wanted to or bash over them if we needed to do that. Whether we were going up or railing back down, the FSR rear suspension kept our tires connected to the trail.

The SB95c is more than a great bike—it’s as close to the perfect trail model as we’ve tested. It felt agile when we needed to maneuver through tight switchbacks and stable when we raced around sweeping fall-away corners. Its suspension seemed equally versatile: crisp and controlled as we accelerated across smoother trails, yet plush enough to absorb harder impacts. “It carries speed where others wallow and pops easily off small rises in the trail,” said one tester.

This nimble model impressed us with how competently it climbed as well as how controlled it felt on descents. Despite its low price, it negotiated almost any challenge we encountered, from rows of roots to piles of rocks. The suspension kept our tires rolling smoothly over the roughest sections on our test loop and ably absorbed medium-sized hits. Our testers praised the Twin-Loc remote, which reduced travel in shock or completely locked it out with the flick of a lever. That made this the fastest climber of the three finalists.

Santa Cruz first introduced the Superlight in 1997 and the bike’s longevity speaks to its quality ride. It pedals decently and feels controlled on rolling, technical terrain. On descents, its stability inspires confidence in newer riders and encourages more experienced mountain bikers to try harder lines. Compared with the other finalists, this Superlight had more impressive components. We especially liked the Fox Float CTD shock, which had platform damping that was easy to engage, making this the best-climbing bike of the three.

Although veteran mountain bike racers might find the Tempt 2’s positioning too upright for more aggressive riding or hopping big rocks, testers interested strictly in having a great time on the trail were impressed with the Tempt 2’s smooth ride. It climbed ably, descended with composure, and took tight turns—even those that suddenly appeared in front of us—with ease. One tester felt the bike improved her skills, helping her stay in control of the bike at all times. The suspension floated over pump-track-like sections of trail and felt stable on chewed-up sections of trail.

The Charger’s low price is deceiving—this hardtail felt at home speeding down undulating descents and over rugged trails. The aluminum frame dulled the sting when our wheels slammed into limestone rocks, without twisting much when we torqued on the pedals. Norco also made some smart concessions to rookie riders. The bar curves back toward the saddle, which helps to calm the steering. And the low-hanging top tube makes mounting and dismounting easier. “This is more than a great value; it’s a great bike, period,” said one tester.

Please enter your email or turn off your ad blocker to access all content on

Signing Out...

Are you sure you want to log out?

If you are the only person using this device,
there’s no need to log out. Just exit this page
and you won’t have to sign in again. But if
you’re on a public or shared computer, log out
to keep your account secure.